Senior Project

1
Senior Project ECE 2012Disc Golf Disc
FinderTrevor HenryAdvisor Professor John
Spinelli
Abstract
This project was created to find a relatively
inexpensive way to locate discs on a disc golf
course that may otherwise be lost due to poor
visibility. Using a predetermined radio
frequency, a wireless system was implemented via
an active transmitter on the disc and a receiver
coupled with a directional antenna on the
handheld device. The system allows the user to
determine the direction and distance between the
handheld device and disc by only picking up
signals when pointed in the right direction and
then visually seeing the signal strength on a
voltmeter. The stronger the signal, the closer
the device is to the disc.
Design

• Transmitter
• Amplitude Shift Keying RF Link Transmitter with
  frequency of 434 MHz
• Operating Supply Voltage
  3V 12V
• Receiver
• Amplitude Shift Keying RF Link Receiver with
  frequency of 434 MHz
• Operating Supply Voltage 5V
• Disc
• Innova Star Gator Mid-Range Disc
• Diameter 21.2 cm
• Wing width 1.3 cm
• Rim Depth 1.4 cm
• Weight 172.2 g

It was found in an experiment I conducted that
about 28 grams could be added to the disc with
minimal affects on the flight distance. The
transmitter chosen for the design was much
lighter than this constraint and was small enough
such that it would not hang below the disc rim if
placed in the middle of the disc The receiver
that I chose was also small and light-weight
enough such that it could be placed in a handheld
receiver easily.

Directional Concept
Antenna
ASK Active Transmitter/3V
Source
ASK Receiver Volt
5V
Source Meter
Disc

Handheld Device
Future Work
Results

• Designing and implementing the directional
  antenna so the user can determine direction to
  the disc
• Attaching a voltmeter to the handheld device such
  that the user can determine distance

I was able to establish communication between the
transmitter and receiver up to 100 feet apart
without antennae. 100 feet is an acceptable
distance because when a disc is lost during a
game of disc golf, the player is usually able to
determine where the disc lay within a 100 foot
radius.
Acknowledgements

• Professor Spinelli
• Gene Davison

Resources
www.sparkfun.com